Tempel van Kom Ombo, gezien vanuit het noordoosten before 1859

This photograph of the Temple of Kom Ombo was taken by Francis Frith, an English photographer, sometime in the 19th century. Frith made a career documenting the Middle East. He used the collodion process, a laborious and toxic technique, but one that yielded a high degree of detail. Notice how the stark tones lend a sense of scale to the ancient ruins. Consider the labor involved: not only in the original construction of the temple, but also in the transportation of Frith's equipment, and the making of the photograph itself. Photography in this era was not simply a matter of pointing and shooting. It involved a complex choreography of chemistry, timing, and physical endurance. And of course, the economic realities of colonialism, which allowed Frith access to these sites. Ultimately, this image is a reminder that every photograph is the result of many hands, and a product of its time.